Practicing Awareness of Microaggressions

The example of micro aggression that I observed this week was within a parent conference.  The parents had arrived to speak with the site base manager of an early childhood education program to set goals for the year for their child and to discuss their child moving form the early head start program to the head start program since their child was soon to turn three years of age. Within this conversation the site base manager turned her conversation into discussing the child’s teacher, who was not the reason why the parents had come to the meeting for. The site base manager made a comment in which she stated “you will have to excuse said teacher if you ever see her walking around in a funk and not talking; she really is a good teacher but you have to learn her attitude, I still am. Although I believe that the site base manager was trying to convey to the parents that this teacher was very good with their child and a great teacher there was a hidden subtle micro aggression message about the teacher within her comment. The teacher is this case is African American and the site base managers comment to me was a micro insult in which the site base manager’s hidden message was that all African American’s have attitudes.   

When I heard this comment I was taken back that I had heard it and that the site base manager said it.  The site base manager attributed the teachers’ quietness as a funk or attitude when this could be just be the characteristic nature of the teacher to be quiet. I also felt uncomfortable and offended at hearing the site base manager say this comment to the parents because maybe the parents did not feel the teacher had an attitude or portrayed a funk but now there was a possibility to see this perceived attitude toward the teacher since the site base manager made the comment.

My observation of this experience made me aware of those subtle things that people say that are offensive and have the potential to really harm or devalue a person.

Perspectives on Diversity and Culture

Person 1:

Culture to me is the traditions beliefs and parts of family that are practiced as well as passed on to the next generation.

True diversity is when people form all walks of life can live together in peace embracing each others culture and differences while understanding that we are all human and that being human makes us all alike.

Person 2:

Culture is the behaviors, traditions, socially acceptable patterns of conduct held by a group of people sharing the same race, ethnicity, or country.

Diversity is the differences and variety that each individual brings.

Person 3:

Culture is your belief system, traditions, and dialect passed down from generations.

Diversity  is having people of different culture coexisting and working together as a community and learning that there culture isn’t wrong its just different.

Summary

The aspects of culture that I have studied in this course that are included in the answers I received are some of the deeper culture elements such as a persons language, their religion (or beliefs), and how the culture is something that is passed down.

It was interesting that the people I asked the questions to omitted the values that people in different cultures have.

In thinking about the responses to culture and diversity form the three people I spoke with it is evident that people have similar thought on what culture encompasses but still do not realize that culture influences and affects everything we do or do not do.

My Family Culture

If given the option to only take 3 small items with me as I was moved to a different country permanently, my thought turn immediately to holding on to my faith and those things that have made me who I am today. I would choose to take my bible, a small family photo album, and my family tree history pamphlet. I choose to take my Bible because it encourages me and has been something that has had great significance throughout my life, my parent's life, and grandparents life. Being able to read the Bible will being encouraging to me know that through out all I may face in the new country He will never leave me nor forsake me. My Bible would also help me share the powerful word of God to my small children, and others who choose to believe. The next item I would take is a small family photo album so that my children would be able to remember what others who did not go with us looked liked and also to be able to view and think back on happier times by seeing the photos. The last item I would take is my family tree history pamphlet; every family reunion our family goes over this chart to remind us who we are and were we came from. I would like this chart to go with me so that I would always be able to let my children know that they came from somewhere and were apart of something that is different from the culture they are currently in and that should always be remembered. If I were told to give up two of the items that I had brought with me it would be hurtful, undoubtedly, hurtful and would trouble me deeply but I would be able to give up those things that I hold close to my heart.
Insights about my family
My families Christianity if an extremely important aspect to our family culture, it is something that my family talks about when we are together and as a result has been passed down through several generations and is something that I would want my children to know and be apart of.
Insights about cultural differences
In completing this assignment I can't help but wonder all the cultural things that the families and children that I serve come to the program with and if the program is truly meeting the needs of incorporating their culture, values and traditions within the program or if we are just touching the surface of getting to know their culture.